An air pot is a rigid plastic container whose wall is covered in outward-pointing cones, each with a hole at the tip. Roots growing towards the wall are guided into the cones, meet air, dry at the tip and stop, which causes the root to branch. The result is a fibrous root system without the dense circling seen in solid pots.
In practice
Air pots dry quickly, especially at the edges, so watering frequency goes up and the edges of the medium can stay dry if the grower only waters the centre. Water slowly and all over, or run drip emitters around the perimeter. They suit soil and coco; they are rarely used with pure inert hydro media.
Like fabric pots, they are most useful when a plant will stay in the same container for a long time, such as a mother plant or a big outdoor plant.
Don't confuse with
- Fabric pot: soft and breathable over its whole surface; an air pot breathes only through its holes.
- Air pruning (outdoor beds): the same effect, from raised mesh-bottomed beds.
